Plaid? For Spring? Groundbreaking.

Coat: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Shoes: Jessica Simpson Collection, DSW

Sweater: Forever and Ever, Kohl's

Skirt: Dickie's, Dolls Kill

Bag: Kate Spade New York for Target

Top: So, Kohl's

Bag: Amazon

Orange Blossom and Bow Necklace

Pants: Almost Famous: Macy's

Sunglasses and flower clips: Wild Fable, Target

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Collection, Amazon

Skirt: Vanilla Star, Macy's; Shoes: Jessica Simpson Collection, Amazon

Bag: Olivia Miller, Amazon

Tee: GAP

Coat: BCX, Macy's

Sometimes I don’t know what gets into me.  I complain about winter, then when it’s finally spring, I pull out, not florals, but plaids.  I guess like Mary, I’m quite contrary. 

So all hail spring fashion in its many forms.  And gardens that grow the way you do.

Orange and Onward: Diners, Daycare, and Dentistry

Sweater: Bar III, Macy's

Bag: Delia's, Dolls Kill

Colonel Cutie Necklace 

Sweater: Wild Fable, Target; Skirt: Dickie's, Dolls Kill

Harvest Corn Barrette Brooch

Bag: Nine West, ROSS

Tee: Modern Lux, Target

Jeans: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Coat: Celebrity Pink, Macy's Backstage

Shoes: Mix No. 6, DSW

Sweater: Express

Bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily; Ring: Claire's

Last Thursday, my mom came to watch Charlotte so the husband and I could go to the dentist.  I wore a colorful yet cozy outfit (it's getting cold here in Jersey) centering around an orange checkerboard sweater.  It also included my Technicolor leggings, green corduroy skirt, beloved Colonel Cutie Necklace, never-before-worn taxi bag, and last but certainly not least, silver star mules.  Because if they worked for my flu shot, then why not the dentist?

The visit was good.  No cavities for either of us, although I did see a chunk of tarter fly past my face as the hygienist was scraping.  Oh well.  Since Char Bar was born, I may have become a little lax in the flossing department, but at least I didn't lose a tooth per that old wives' tale.  

On the way home, we stopped at a diner.  We hadn't gone out, just the two of us, since September.  It was nice to talk like a couple instead of an infant care logistics team.  I had pumpkin pancakes, a choice that may or may not have been influenced by my squash-colored sweater.

I ended up wearing orange the rest of the week.  I like to think that the jolt of sartorial vitamin C gave me the extra oomph I needed to run my errands.  Just like that checkerboard sweater made it fun instead of trying to leave the house that rainy Thursday.  When the husband and my mom first saw it, they said, "Doesn't Charlotte have a pair of pants like that?"

And I said, "Why yes, yes she does."

Which meant, of course, that we had to snap this pic for posterity:     

As they say, twin it to win it.  

Because the orange doesn't fall far from the tree. 🍊🌳

Mad for Plaid, Psyched for Stripes

Sweater: Omg!, JCPenney

Shoes: Nine West, Kohl's

From top: Zulily; Plymouth Plantation gift shop; Mystery beach shops for our trio of beaded daisy friends; Wild Fable, Target 

Bag: Elizabeth and James, Kohl's; Cherry charm: Carole, JCPenney; Grape charm: Charming Charlie

Sweater: Pink Republic, Kohl's

Skirt: Dickie's, Dolls Kill

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Boscov's; Bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily; Ring: Miami accessories cart

Skirt: Amazon

Boots: Mix No. 6, DSW

Sweater: Delia's, Dolls Kill

Bag: Olivia Miller, Amazon

Jumper: Derek Heart, Zulily

Geometric Jam Necklace

Bag: Amazon

Ask anyone on the street what she thinks when she hears stripes, and nine times out of ten, she'll answer Beetlejuice, mimes, and/or old-timey prisoners.  But if you said plaid, then he'd answer Scots, schoolgirls, and Christmas.  (It's not lost on me that the "she" changed to a "he" just in time for the schoolgirls.)  So two prints, two worlds, one dark and dangerous and the other straight from Norman Rockwell.  Still, both are undeniably classics.  And here I am in both, in one outfit at the same time. (Yes, that's a lipstick shooting up from the dead plant.  Apparently, makeup brightens more than faces.)  

If that doesn't say here comes trouble, then I don't know what does.      

No, wait.  I do.  It's Beetlejuice wearing a kilt and brandishing a Christmas tree.  

Damn you, Michael Keaton.  You win every time.

Second Banana-Rama: Fresh Off the Tote

Something for the fashion savvy sleepwalker.  

Pajamas: Simply Vera, Kohl's

Shoes: Delicious, Zulily

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Amazon

Miami Madness Necklace

Top: eric and lani, Macy's

Skirt: Bubblegum, Macy's

Shoes: Bucco, Kohl's

Bag: Bisou Bisou, JCPenney

Pineapple wristlet: City Streets, JCPenney

Blue Banana Charm Necklace

Top: Zulily

Skirt (a dress!): Modcloth

Shoes: Guess, DSW

Bag: T-Shirt & Jeans, Zulily

Guess what?  The Tote Trove is going bananas!  Which means that we have lots of bananas today.  Both exotic and familiar, this potassium-packed treat is at home in a Caribbean headdress as it is in a kindergartner's lunchbox.  That's what makes it so -- yes -- a-peel-ing.

As a fan of fruit motifs in general and yellow in particular, I've got a whole bunch of bananas in my wardrobe.  One of the newest additions is this T-Shirt & Jeans clutch:

The brand's tagline is: "The bag defines your style."  Although I don't subscribe to this philosophy (wear a plain tee and jeans?  I'd sooner sport a mullet.), I like the thought behind it, that is, that a great bag can make your whole look.

One thing I didn't have in my cornucopia was any Bananas in Pyjamas merchandise.  (And yes, "pyjamas" is spelled with a "y." I think it's an Australian thing.)  Surely you remember this famed produce pair as part of the '90s craze of adults donning costumes and singing for the sake of kiddie TV.  (Hey, just be thankful that I'm not getting all misty eyed over the Teletubbies.)  Anyway, the Bananas in Pyjamas wore blue and white striped (what else?) pajamas, they came down the stairs . . . and that's all I know because I never actually watched them.  I just thought that they were so cute.  (Would apples have been as endearing?  I think not.)  As a teenager, I saw the stuffed animals (fruit?) versions at a True Value Hardware while on vacation in Stone Harbor, and to this day, I regret not buying them.  Especially now that they're on Amazon for upwards of fifty dollars.  But I still wanted to include their sweet little faces in this post, so I persevered with my search.  The most economical -- and interesting -- option turned out to be this tee featuring the dynamic duo:

Tee: Amazon

Skirt: Dickies, Dolls Kill

Shoes: Christian Siriano for Payless

Bag: Nine West

Sunglasses: Michaels

Now, it's a little big for my taste (in this photo I've folded it under).  Which means that I'll probably wear it around the house or tie it at the the side to give it that '80s-rific crop top vibe.  Nevertheless, it looks great with this super old black and yellow necklace, whose color scheme is subtly reminiscent of the Grinch's iconic greasy black peel.  Which, while disturbing, isn't as bad as being like the seasick crocodile.

Super Old No Name Necklace

I can't help but wonder what the T-Shirt & Jeans people would say about that.